A Dumpton Gap café owner who plunged into the sea fully clothed to rescue three children is urging people to be aware of the tides when they are enjoying a day at the beach.
Former Royal Marine and retired London firefighter Steven Doorey-Williams says Dumpton Gap is a safe, gentle, family beach “99% of the time” but there are occasions when rough seas and high tide can make certain areas dangerous.
The 56-year-old rushed into the waves on Wednesday afternoon after being alerted to the panicked screams of a mum and nan on the beach as the children got caught up in the swell.
Steven, who has owned Bayside Café for three-and-a-half- years, said: “I was in the café cooking when one of the beach hut owners, Jenny, came running in and said ‘Steve, there are people in trouble in the water.’
“So, I came out and I could see a lady knee deep in the water screaming ‘can someone help, somebody help.’
“I could see the children in trouble. The sea on that day was rough and it was high tide. Where the children were can be quite dangerous as the tide can take you out to sea and around to Viking Bay.
“I knew I had to act quickly. There’s a life buoy just outside the café so I went into the sea with it.
“The first two children were together so I put the ring around one of them and told the other to hold on and I dragged them in. Then I noticed another boy was getting swept out on the tide so I went in and got him.
“We need to be respectful of the sea and certain conditions but Dumpton Gap is safe 99% of the time so I wouldn’t want families to be put off from coming here.”
Resident Jo Drake was at the scene and witnessed the rescue. She said: “I walked past his kitchen and saw him cooking. Then as I walked on it became apparent these children were in trouble and a woman was screaming for help and then suddenly Steve, without any hesitation ran out and went and helped. Just brilliant.”
Steven, who served with 45 Commando – an elite, battalion-sized amphibious combat unit based in Scotland – before joining the London Fire Brigade, says this is the third rescue he has carried out.
He added: “One was a child and the other was an adult who was struggling. I was in the café and another lady came in and asked me to help so I grabbed the buoy and went out. It’s a good thing we have the life buoy.”
After the rescue this week, Steven changed into a spare uniform and went back to his cooking at the café before going home and popping his work kit on the line to dry out.
He says his wife and 11-year-old daughter only found out about the rescue that evening.
He said: “They asked why only my café kit was on the line and not the rest of the washing and that was when I told them, while we were having dinner.
He added that they weren’t surprised: “I am always in the middle of things so it was no surprise to them!”
Steven and his family moved to Broadstairs seven years ago after he retired. He says he had noticed the Bayside Café while walking his dog so when he spotted it was up for sale, he decided that was his next adventure – luckily for those he has pulled from the sea.
Top man Steve. Well done.
It was so great an educated Jo Drake was there to report on the situation